Advice on getting a CR1

[travystats 0]

Hey everyone, I found this site after many hours of doing research on the proper steps needed to properly apply for and receive a CR-1 Visa. It seems like you are all very helpful so I am looking forward to the responses.

So my fiance and I met on FaceBook last April. She is a filipina living in Jordan currently as a house maid. We have spoken to and skyped each other every day as well as sending each other a box of personal items/gifts to one another. Of course all of the timestamps and receipts have been saved for documentation. Her and I have come up with this plan to finally meet each other in person in october of this year and get married. I will be there for three weeks before I head back home. I know for a lot of people that to make a decision like this with someone that you have not met in person is very risky but I guess when you just know, you know. I am back and forth with the idea of hiring an attourney or doing it myself, or even trying a website such as rapidvisa. I understand the K1 is a quicker process but her and I would rather get married sooner than later and once she is here with me and both of our feet are on the ground we can arrange a nice U.S. wedding (not a 90 rush). Should I just go about doing this myself or is it easier to pay someone to do the paperwork? What exactly do I need to do here? I can honestly say that this decision isnt anything I have ever considered in my life but now that I have met her its amazing how things can change. Im looking forward to any help. Thank you!

[JFH 12,191]

Welcome!

You're in the right place. This is very much a "do it yourself" site and you will see from all the members here that it's quite possible to do the whole thing without needing to pay a lawyer. Save those $$$ for your new life together.

If you want to do a spousal visa, it will take about a year from start to finish. You can't start until you are legally married so in the meantime you need to read, read, read and prepare. Honestly, thee is no such thing as too much preparation for this process.

One thing you will need lots of is proof of a genuine relationship. So keep all air tickets, hotel reservations, photos, emails, chat logs, cards, postal receipts, and anything else you have. Start gathering them now.

And read the guide on this site (link at the top of the page). The first step is the I-130.

Edited February 19, 2016 by JFH

[Alaska2012 462]

You can most definitely do it yourself! And since you aren't sending anything in until after your wedding you have plenty of time to read up on thing! Start by reading the guides here on VJ, they are a gold mine!!

[travystats 0]

Welcome!

You're in the right place. This is very much a "do it yourself" site and you will see from all the members here that it's quite possible to do the whole thing without needing to pay a lawyer. Save those $$$ for your new life together.

If you want to do a spousal visa, it will take about a year from start to finish. You can't start until you are legally married so in the meantime you need to read, read, read and prepare. Honestly, thee is no such thing as too much preparation for this process.

One thing you will need lots of is proof of a genuine relationship. So keep all air tickets, hotel reservations, photos, emails, chat logs, cards, postal receipts, and anything else you have. Start gathering them now.

And read the guide on this site (link at the top of the page). The first step is the I-130.

Absolutely am going to be spending this time doing as much research as possible. Yes a spousal visa is the way we are going to go. If a year is how long I must wait for her than so be it. Thank you! I am just hoping that going there and meeting her only once is enough for her to be able to come here.

You can most definitely do it yourself! And since you aren't sending anything in until after your wedding you have plenty of time to read up on thing! Start by reading the guides here on VJ, they are a gold mine!!

Awesome. So I dont need to fill out the I-130 until I go back to the U.S.? What will I need to bring with me to the Philippines? I thought I needed to bring the affidavit of support there.

[JFH 12,191]

For the I-130 after you are married you need proof that you are a US citizen (copy of your passport or birth certificate), proof that you are legally married (marriage certificate and translation into English if necessary), proof that any previous marriages have ended lawfully (divorce decrees or death certificates) and a passport photo of each.

The affidavit of support comes into play much later.

You will each need to comple form G-325a so you might want to take a copy for her when you go if she does not have a printer.

[travystats 0]

For the I-130 after you are married you need proof that you are a US citizen (copy of your passport or birth certificate), proof that you are legally married (marriage certificate and translation into English if necessary), proof that any previous marriages have ended lawfully (divorce decrees or death certificates) and a passport photo of each.

The affidavit of support comes into play much later.

You will each need to comple form G-325a so you might want to take a copy for her when you go if she does not have a printer.

As of right now my only other question is about my income. This will be the first year that I will be filing as making more than the 125% income level. I have read that you need multiple years of X income? Will me finally making enough this year be enough for us to do all of this? That was really my biggest concern because before this year I did not make over the 125%.

[Alaska2012 462]

It's what you currently make what matters. You will still have to send in the taxes for the last 3 years but if you are above the limit now you are fine.

[travystats 0]

It's what you currently make what matters. You will still have to send in the taxes for the last 3 years but if you are above the limit now you are fine.

Okay thats what I thought. The thing is I only have filed taxes for last year and this year (14/15). So I only have two years of tax filings since working with my father. Before that the last time was in 2007. As of the year 2015 yes I am above the limit. Its just the "last 3 years" thing when I only have two years.

Edited February 19, 2016 by travystats

[Alaska2012 462]

Just write a statement explaining why you didn't file that year and you should be good.

[travystats 0]

Just write a statement explaining why you didn't file that year and you should be good.

Sounds good! So I was reading the guide for the CR-1 and it says that she is going to need my Affidavit of Support as well as my tax information, birth cert, ect. Will I have to send these things to her via mail?

[Alaska2012 462]

Yes, she'll need originals eventually

[travystats 0]

Yes, she'll need originals eventually

Alright. So when I arrive back in the U.S. I fill out the I-130 and go from there? How long do I have to send her the necessary paperwork for her interview? I see many of your timelines of the process and it really reallly excites me. I wish I could just get started now! haha. The timeline of everything is a little confusing. Im sure its not as overwhelming as it looks or as im making it out to be. It appears that the wedding is the first step followed by the I-130. I also hope that when I send the documents to her dont somehow get lost in the mail!

[JFH 12,191]

The I-864 is a long way off. For now, focus on stage one and gathering your evidence of a genuine relationship.

Edited February 19, 2016 by JFH

[JFH 12,191]

Alright. So when I arrive back in the U.S. I fill out the I-130 and go from there? How long do I have to send her the necessary paperwork for her interview? I see many of your timelines of the process and it really reallly excites me. I wish I could just get started now! haha. The timeline of everything is a little confusing. Im sure its not as overwhelming as it looks or as im making it out to be. It appears that the wedding is the first step followed by the I-130. I also hope that when I send the documents to her dont somehow get lost in the mail!

In short, the stages are:

- get married

- file I-130 with G-325A (one each) and G-1145, if desired

- when the I-130 is approved it is sent to the NVC - that's when you need to worry about tax returns and financials

- when that's approved it is sent to the embassy and your wife must have a medical examination, get the necessary shots and go to her interview at the embassy

- when that's approved she gets her visa

[travystats 0]

In short, the stages are:

- get married

- file I-130 with G-325A (one each) and G-1145, if desired

- when the I-130 is approved it is sent to the NVC - that's when you need to worry about tax returns and financials

- when that's approved it is sent to the embassy and your wife must have a medical examination, get the necessary shots and go to her interview at the embassy

- when that's approved she gets her visa

Sounds easy enough. I have one other question though and its about the DCF. Her and I have discussed the possibility of me just staying in the Philippines until she gets her green card. I read that I would have to get joint citizenship as well as be in the Philippines for at least 6 months before being eligible for this. If staying there longer than my planned 3 weeks will help expedite the process than for me its an option worth considering. If not than I have no problem continuing down the CR-1 path. Thanks again for such quick responses guys and gals. It means a lot. Its my future on the line here! (as you all well know )